Metal-ball-rolling machine



c. T. COATES. METAL BALL ROLLING MACHINE, APPLICATEON HLED MAR, 24, 1921.

1,429,676. PatentedSept. 19,1922,

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

In pen 764".

6g :57)? waif wares,

C. T. COATES.

METAL BALL ROLLING MACHINE.

APPLICATEON FILED MAR-24. 1921.

Patented Sept. .19, 1922..

2 SHEETSSHEET 2..

. a e/13am. $600 313 nane CLINTON T. COATES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGDTOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 ALBERT W, ALBRECHT AND O1\TETHIBD TO CHARLES A. CLOUD, BQTH OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IanrAL-BALL-noLLINe- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatli, CLiN'roN T. Conrns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Silt. Louis, lvlissouri. have invented a new and useful ll letal-Ball-ltolling Machine of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metal ball rolling machines, and consists in the novel oonstruction hereinafter disclosed.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine whereby metal balls may be rolled from polygonal slugs or pieces of metal which will be absolutely accurate in spherical dimensions and which will have a uniform density throughout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described'i'ncluding a plurality of rollers and forming-dies arranged adjacent thereto with convenient means for adjusting the dies.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described including a plurality of rollers arranged in connection with formingdies, whereby a continuous forming-passage willbe provided so that balls may be formed from polygonal slugs or pieces of metal fed into the passage at one end and discharged at the other end thereof. 7

Numerous additional structural advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which 1 Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the machine partially in section illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the machine illustrating the operative parts.

Fig.4 is a view of the several forming dies shown'partially-in section and arranged in the position in which they are mounted in the machine. v I

.Fig. 5 is a cross section of a fragment of the machine designed particularly to illustrate the shape of the passage between the rollers and dies. I In the embodiment of the invention illu trated in the drawin the frame of the ma chineis made up oI-side members 1 arranged to be attached to the-permanent support of'the machine by bolts 2. A plurality of rollers 3 4: and 5 are mounted onshafts in place by the screws 27.

6, 7 and 8 respectively, said shafts extend ing transversely of the machine and being arranged one above the other and journaled n bearlngs 9, 10 and 11 respectively formed in the side members of the'frame. The ro ll er 3 1s provided with a groove 12, the surface of which is roughened or knurled so that it willbe an abrasive surface for operating upon the material out of which the balls are formed. The roller 4: is likewise formed with a groove 13 the surface of which is preferably smooth.

The roller 5 is composed of two sections split in thecen ter 'with'one section fast on the shaft 8 and the other section. loose or floating thereon. Thisrollerhas a groove 14L the surface of which is preferably smooth. I i Thevformingdies 15, 16 and 17 are mounted transversely in the machine and are supported by horizontal ledges or walls 18, '19 and 20 respectively, so arranged that the dies will be on alternate sides of the rollers. The dies have segmental faces in which grooves complementary to'the grooves of the rollers are out, said grooves being indicated by 21, '22 and 23 respectively. In order to properly adjust the dies lugsQ l, 25 and 26 are-formed on the frame of the machine over the dies, and set screws 27 are threaded through the lugs and face of the dies.

- Rods 28 extend transversely of the ma bear against the upper chine in such position as to pass through elongated slots 29 formed in the dies The rods 28 are held in place in the side mem bers of the frame by nuts 30. The radial it will be observed that anaccurate adjustmentof the dies in respect of the rollers may be accomplished and that, after the adjust ment has been effected, the dies willbe held The rollers are driven from a power shaft 35 supported in a standard 36,- a power pulley 37 being provided on the shaft 35 for the application of power thereto. The-shaft 35 carriesa pinion-38 that mesheswith a gear 39 carried by a; counter shaft l0, The

with the upper one of a train of gears include counter-shaft40 hasa pinion 4-1 meshing ing the gears 42, 48 and 441 mounted respectively on the ends of the shafts 6, 7 and 8.

This power transmission mechanism drives theshafts 6 Tand 8 and thereb the rollers 1 3 that are fast thereon alternately in reverse.

directions. i

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 5, par

ticularly, that the cavity made up by the matching faces of the channels intherolle-rs and in the dies isoblong in cross section, that v is to say the'lateral Walls of thec'avity are slightly.extende'd-froma true circle. It will also be noted that the upper wall of the channel or groove 21 o'fthe die 15 is deflected upwardly from the circle upon which the channel' is] formed, so as to provide a greater space hetweenthe die; and the roller for the admission of the slugs from which the balls are rolled; and, also, that the. wall of the channel in the die 17- is deflected downwardly from" the Icircle upon which the channel in said die is formed, .so as to provide a dis charge for the balls after theyare formed. I A machine made up-yas above described provides a continuous passage; for-the material, the-slug or cube of'materia'l from which "the ball is tobe formedentering the cavity between theupper end of the channel-of the die 15' and continuing through the passage, being discharged from the machine at the lower end of the channel'in the die 1.7. The

abrasive surfaceof the channel 21 tendsto crush the polygonal sliaped slug of metal entering the machine to conform to the vertical diameter of the cavity formed by the roller and die. Thiscavity 'isof'adiamcter slightly greater thanl thefinished diameter ofthe ball. The cavity between the rollers and dies gradually diminishesin vertical 7 diameter until it is adjusted to the exact size of the finished ball. passes between'thedie16and the central WVhen "the material roller it has been formed'tothe diameter required and is then passed into the cavity between the lower die and roller. As explained fibOVetlliS lower roller; is split so'that one I section of'it is fast on the shaft and the other merit provides for a rotary movement being.

section isa floating section This arrangeimparted to the ball as it continues through the cavity, thereby polishingor finishing the ball. I At the end of the ca'vitythe ball is deflected from the machine".

From the foregoing it willbe understood thatthe machineprov'ides means for accuv, 'r'ately 'forining balls of-required dimensions which, when completed, will have a" surface tliat isper fectly smooth, and that the balls wilhbe of uniform density throughout.

.lfiam aware that the invention may be modified certain particulars without departing from the "spirit and scope thereof. I do not lnnitmyself, therefore, to the exact construction and arrangement shown, but what I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: I i v l. A machine for rolling'metal balls, comprising side frames, a plurality of grooved rollers supported for rotation between the side frames, horizontalledges in; connection with the inner sides of the side frames, formlng dies mounted on said ledges for cooperation with said rollers respectively and havers, a plurality of wedges supported said side frames-for adjustingeach "of said forming dies upon said ledges in any desired relation to" the r0llers,fand elements for l10lding the forming dies down upon the ledges.

- ing grooves matching the grooves in the roll- 2. A machine for rolling metal balls, comg prising side frames, a plurality of grooved rollers supported for rotation between the side frames, horizontal ledges in connection with the inner sides of the side frames, forming dies mounted onsaid ledges for-cooperation with said. rollers respectively and having grooves matching the grooves inthe roll- I cars, a plurality of;wedges supported by the side frames for adjusting each of said forming dies uponsa-id ledges inany desired relation to the rollers, and releasable means supported by the side frames for holding said forming dies upon said ledges.

'8. A machine of the character described,

"a'pair of'side frames, grooved rollers jour n'aledffor rotation oneabove theother betweenfsaidside frames, ledges extending .from the inner sides of said sideframes, forming dies mounted on said ledges for cooperation with said rollers respectively and having grooves in their inner faces matching the grooves in the'rollers, elements support ed bythe side frames for holdingsaidlforming dies from movement away from thexrollers, and elements supported by the side 1 frames for preventingv said forming dles from rising from said ledges.

5. In a machine of the character'described, the combination of a pair-90f spaced side frames, a pair of rollers supported one above the other'between theside frames and having grooves in their peripheries, a formingldie cooperating with each of said rollers, a third roller formed of two relatively movable parts forming a circumferential groove, a

forming die-cooperating withsaid I'third roller, and mechani sm for rotating said pair of rollers and onepart of said'third roller,

6. In a machine of the character described, a shaft, a roller on said shaft composed of two sections one of which is rigid with the shaft and the other of which is loose on the shaft, and said two sections having a circumferential groove between them, a forming die supported adjacent to said roller and having a groove in its inner face matching the groove in the roller, and means for rotating said roller.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of side frames, a roller supported between said side frames and having a circumferential groove, adie having a segmental face adjacent to said roller and having a groove in the segmental face thereof matching the groove in the roller, an additional roller supported below the first one composed of two relatively movable parts having a circumferential groove between them, a formlng die cooperating with said additional roller, and mechanism for rotating the first-named roller and one part of the additional roller.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a roller transversely supported in the upper part of the frame and having a groove therein the surface of which is roughened, a die having a segmental face disposed adjacent to one side of the roller, there being a groove in said face deflected downwardly on gradually decreasing radii, a second roller arranged in the frame below said first-named roller and having a smooth surfaced groove therein a die arranged in the frame adjacent to said roller and on-the opposite side from said firstnamed die, a third roller mounted below said second named roller, said last named roller being split, and means for driving said two first-named rollers, and a section of said last-named roller.

CLINTON T. COATES. 

